Osaka elderly ensure no one faces a lonely farewell
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- In an Osaka neighborhood long known as a home for day laborers, elderly residents with no family to rely on are arranging their funer
In Osaka's Kamagasaki neighborhood, an association called Kamagasaki Miokuri no Kai, or Kamagasaki Send-off Association, helps ensure that elderly residents without family connections receive dignified farewells when they pass away. Founded in 2012 by Yoshihiro Sugimoto, the group's head since April is Buddhist priest Toyoko Nakahara, 65, who became involved after seeing the association on television.
The association mainly serves Nishinari residents receiving public assistance and has about 100 registered members, including volunteers. Members pay a monthly fee of 100 yen ($0.65) and carry cards with their religious affiliation and contact details for Nakahara and other members of the group. When a member dies, the association handles their funeral and other affairs after death, with part of the cost covered by public welfare assistance.
The group also covers funeral home costs for altars and flowers. Many members are former day laborers, and some lost husbands who worked in such jobs. The association's activities, including regular meetings, grave visits, and distributing newsletters, aim to combat loneliness and preserve the dignity of its members as the Nishinari population ages.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
